FLASH POINT
Nicu Curtu Thomas Duong William Feng Nick Silva Ken Wilbur
It’s a scenic landscape, with animals, like the giraffe, from the savannah. Even though it was taken in Florida, it feels like it could have been taken in Central Africa. (left) Band performer, Jake Greenlee ’19 is running towards the light. This light symbolizes the adventures which are to come. (right)
PHOTO FEATURES CONTINUED ON PAGE 19
CONTENTS
04 06 08 15
PROFILES MEET THE BAND KIDS
What does the band program have in the past and the future? Olivia Barker and Sean Chi share their stories and wisdom about what they do.
FEATURE HEEE HAW
The popularity of the generic brand soda from Hy-Vee has rose across the music programs. See what drives the craze over name brand soda.
COVER IT’S AN HONOR
What’s the difference between a normal class and an honor class? Students and teachers share their input about the usefulness of these classes.
OPINION POLITICS
The controversy of the media and politics around the worldwide has increased with more distrust from the public. We break down and share our opinions about the different topics.
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR FROM ME TO YOU,
With summer approaching, and seniors waving their hands in the air saying their goodbyes to high school, it’s hard to imagine a world without the stress from finals, or the hours of homework and studying all throughout the early morning hours. The repeitive routine of waking up early, or begging your friends for homework
is coming a halt. No more worrying about grades, or no more drama between friends. The incoming summer is filled with a new, fresh start; a new chapter in your life. While it may be your first complete year, or the final breaths of one of the best years of your life, there are many things to do and talk about during the summer. One of the
main motivations for the different variety of content in this publication is the things I’ve seen around the school and what other people have told me about the school. These things are pretty much going to stick with me the whole summer, so with an open mind, I would like to share you the first and last publication, Flashpoint.
-Thomas Duong
04
PROFILE
MAY 24, 2017
BEHIND THE MUSIC BY KEN WILBUR
DESIGN BY THOMAS DUONG
“Ding!” The bell rings as students begin to pet player; honestly I’m kinda sad about next hurry down the long hallway leading into the year because I feel like she’s gonna move up to South Band Room. As more students arrive, a higher band… and I won’t be able to keep the telltale noises of a band start to appear: up,” Philibert said. miscellaneous chatter, the random blares Barker does not limit her creativity to the and squeaks from individuals warming up, band room, as she enjoys working with makeand the ensuing congregation of music that up, too. ¨There are so many different things is produced when practice begins. Although that you can do on your face, different styles Olivia Barker ‘20 makes very little noise and looks,¨ Barker said. However, she has outside of band, it is situations like these in not always been so captivated by makeup. “I which she shines. actually hated makeup for most of my life, Barker first but then I just started playing kinda decided the trumpet in that I liked it, fifth grade like and then it just many others, spiraled out of -Olivia Barker ’20 but has been control to the much more enpoint where I thralled with just want to do her instrument makeup all the ever since. time,” Barker ¨(Band) is another place for me to be creative, said. and it’s also a good place to get my competiAlready this year, Barker has used her pastion out,¨ Barker said. Barker has had much sion for cosmetics at West by working with success competing in such band competi- Theatre West. ¨I like doing makeup for the tions, qualifying for the prestigious SEIBA plays: you get to meet people and it´s pretty honor band three times in a row and playing minimal commitment,¨ Barker said. Barker in the IBA band in eighth grade. especially enjoyed the makeup for The WizFriend of Barker, and fellow member of ard of Oz, adding, “I got to do green and blue freshman band, Dylan Philibert ‘20 could not eyeshadow and green contour, which was specify enough Barker’s talent and presence cool.” in the band room. “Olivia is a fantastic trumBarker is just as active in the local communi-
“BAND IS ANOTHER PLACE TO BE CREATIVE.”
PHOTO COURTESY FROM OLIVIA BARKER
ty as at West, as she recently participated in a protest in downtown Iowa City. “(The protest) was against the hate that Trump represents; being a good person is really important to me, ...caring about other people,” Barker said. Luckily for Barker, many students at West share her political views so making friends has not been a problem. Looking into the future, Barker really likes her prospects, especially in taking more advanced science courses. “I like learning about the human body, I’d say science (is one of my passions), and I want to be a doctor when I grow up,” Barker said. Already having spent a year at West, Barker is thankful the opportunities and the atmosphere the school provides, “The overall attitude is good, and for the most part people are accepting.”
HEEE HAW BY KEN WILBUR
DRINK
PHENOMENON DESIGN BY NICK SILVA
Past the doors of a local Hy-Vee, long decided to pursue making that it got the kids just the right halfway down the beverage aisle, Haw part of West High culture. amount of jacked up to make it on the third row there is located “After I saw that happen I was at through two and a half hours of a drink that has grown rapid- someone’s party. and I was like, Les Miserables,¨ Welch said. Ally in populari‘hey I think we need though the success of the pit orty at West High. some Heee Haw to liven chestra was undeniably due in Heee Haw is now up this party,’” Furlong most part to the talent and dedfound regularly said. Since then, Heee ication of the student musicians, at many student Haw has seemed to pop Haw was a significant part of the social gatherings, up more frequently at energy and atmosphere of the and has already parties, creating just group. achieved the type the type of culture Fur- Stil ever-persistent is the quesof outlandish long hoped for. “One tion, why Heee Haw? ¨Part of legends that can guy actually had a the reason Hee Haw only be associatdrinking hat, but is good for this is that ed with student don’t worry it was it is less than three tradition and just Heee Haw,” dollars for a 12 pack lore. Furlong said. so you really can conNo one knows Yet Haw is not sume it as a joke,¨ when Heee Haw only limited to Furlong said. Howwas initially inparties and social ever, there are many troduced to West gatherings, as it other cheap beverages High, but one has invaded more on hand that could be student who has formal sectors of drunk without such been a luminary West, most notafanfare. in the process of bly the pit orchesAnother theory integrating Haw into standard tra for Theatre West´s Les Ned Furlong ‘17 is that the culture West High culture is Ned Furlong Miserables. ¨By the time pit around Heee Haw is ‘17. According to Furlong, Haw rolled around (Heee Haw) was a mimicking that of consuming alhas some early origins with stu- little bit infamous; we got into a cohol at adult parties. ¨Half the dents from City High.“Over the little bit of a food tradition down joke is, between people stabbing course of this year, due to some in the pit,… in the corner over by holes in it and drinking it, (Heee weird happenings, I keep run- the percussion instruments we Haw) is vaguely analogous to a ning into some City High guys, had cookies, crackers and there can of beer. It is almost like this a n d were always cans weird subconscious imitation of t h e y “Its a good drink, in all of Heee Haw.¨ party culture, except its off-brand h av e Furlong was not Hy Vee Mountain Dew,¨ Furlong honesty its not, but its a some alone in noting said. of the good alternative.” the role Heee Regardless of the cause of Heee Heee Haw played in Haw´s popularity, everyone can H a w the pit orchestra, agree on some of it´s univer-Wang ’17 tradias the director sal truths. ¨I think the joke of t i o n of the group, Jon (Heee Haw) is pretending that themWelch, was very its a really extreme party thing. selves,” Furlong said. much aware himself. ¨Heee Haw It´s called Heee Haw, the cans In the wake of attending multiple was the unofficial official drink are stupid and it tastes bad.¨ parties with these students, Fur- of the 2017 pit orchestra, I think WSSPAPER.COM MAY 2017 FEATURE 5
SEAN CHI:
THE DRUMMER BY KEN WILBUR
Behind the flashiness of showchoir, the smooth blues of jazz band and the blaring cacophony of marching band, all music has a beat. Whether filling in the drops for show choir or setting the foreground for marching band, the sound of the drums is abundant. And no one is more involved in West High percussion than Sean Chi ‘17. As a current senior and a veteran percussionist, Chi has stepped up as a leader in multiple musical groups this year. “Filling the leadership role wasn’t that bad. I had already gained respect from members of the senior class and many of the underclassmen, so it was kinda natural.” Chi has not shied away from drumming his senior year, playing with four different musical group here at West alone, while also performing in gigs with friends whenever possible. Chi´s role in these groups has not always been easy owing to the fact that he played center snares for marching band and had a very important role in keeping the beat in show choir. In fact, Chi was so influential in Good Time Company that his name was added into the group chant a few times this year. ¨There is always this chant before GTC goes on stage and it goes, ‘when 6 PROFILE MAY 2017 WSSPAPER.COM
I say good time you say what?’ And everyone yells, ‘GTC, GTC!’¨ Chi said. “Some of the band kids thought it would be funny that instead of saying GTC they would say Sean Chi, so they got the whole band to say that and then it slowly spread to the choir.” This natural acclimation to leadership roles is due in part to some of Chi’s mentors here at West.
“Many people have influenced me to be where I am today, but one that stands out is Rich Medd…he’s always been pushing me to become a better drummer, which really helped me,” Chi said. Chi first met Med when he was a freshman in symphonic band and needed extra help and attention. Chi also adds that some of his most favorite memories have come about
“INSTEAD OF SAYING GTC THEY WOULD SAY SEAN CHI, SO THEY GOT THE WHOLE BAND TO SAY THAT AND THEN IT SLOWLY SPREAD TO THE CHOIR.” -Sean Chi ’17
DESIGN BY THOMAS DUONG
from drumming in band. “The single memory that sticks out for me is when guest artist Matt Wilson came to play with the jazz bands. He gave us a clinic and played for us and it was a great learning experience,” Chi said. “Instead of showing off his chops, he (Wilson) plays a melody on the drumset, which is really unusual.” But not all of Chi´s favorite memories came from just jazz band. ¨I´ĺl also remember playing drums for the winter swing show at Hancher auditorium for show
choir. I got to play in the auditorium at hancher which is super nice,¨ he said. Closing in on his final few weeks at West, Chi often reflects on his experiences as a drummer and student at the school. “The best memories I’ve gotten are usually from show choir, because I’ve met so many new people and made a lot of friends,” Chi said.
PHOTO COURTESY FROM SEAN CHI
“THE BEST MEMORIES I’VE GOTTEN ARE USUALLY FROM SHOW CHOIR.” -Sean Chi ’17
WSSPAPER.COM MAY 2017 PROFILE 7
It’s An HONOR
BY WILLIAM FENG Students at West High are always pushed to accel and challenge themselves by taking honors classes. However, do these classes achieve that goal? Or do they fall short of it?
DESIGN BY THOMAS DUONG
Too many of us have that feeling.
T
he feeling of failure. Of being incapable. That life has lost meaning. There are many possible events that go with that feeling, but it runs rampant throughout the school the day after grades are finalized. That gaping darkness of having to retake a class, or to quit pursuing the Honors distinction. But now, thanks to your decision, your academic career is seemingly sending you on a collision course with a lifetime of poverty. Because you tried to build your resume with four honors classes this year, to show you’re smart, but you weren’t smart enough to mold that perfect GPA. But if you had known what West honors classes really are, then you might have known that your mindset about honors is completely wrong. One major misleading perception is that colleges will look at the number of honors classes a student takes. They don’t care that much. If they really did care, they would care the same way as a fish wondering about the chance of rain. The main reason to take honors is for extra content. “[With English 10,] if we were to read a novel,” English teacher John Boylan said, “I’d expect my honors class to be able to read 30 pages at home and come back with smart stuff to say, whereas
in a regular [class] we would read the first 15 pages together so I can plant the seeds of what to look for.” Honors classes generally go over the same curriculum as regular classes, but usually at a faster pace or in more detail. But this definition is usually distorted due to the competitive culture at West. “I think students take honors because their friends do, or because they feel it’s cool here to have a super busy schedule, and hard classes,” Boylan said. “It’s almost like social capital. [Sometime they feel as though] those people who are just ‘regular’ students are somehow dumber or worse human beings, even though they’re not. I’ve seen some students in my regular english classes who could definitely be part of my honors classes, but their schedules were full.” Boylan also brings up the point that being smart doesn’t imply an honors class will still be easy. “I get a lot of students who don’t care about English in my English H classes,” he said, “They don’t like to read, they don’t like to write, and they don’t like to discuss, so I’m like if you don’t like to read, write, or discuss, then what are you doing in an honors classes?” Honors were created to offer an alternative for students who wanted a faster
paced class. Oftentimes, passing theses classes requires background knowledge or dedication. “It doesn’t mean you have to be an A student,” Spanish teacher Teresa Bozer said, “Honors means you have to be a student willing to work.” While a faster class could imply more time-consuming homework, the amount varies impressively from class to class. Take English 9, for example. “I wouldn’t say it’s more work,” said Jared Staskal ‘20, “[rather] we do different things [from regular] They might be reading this one book while we might be reading a different book.” While honors homework load might vary according to the subject, it is rarely just more difficult question-and-answer paperwork. Honor classes attempt to go through subjects more in-depth, and more often, those worksheets won’t be adequate. For the Spanish section, honors homework often comes in the form of more speaking practice instead. “Many times [we foreign language teachers] collect less homework,” Bozer said In general, there is a similarity that all honors classes share. Whether it is English or Spanish, all honors classes expect the students to be dedicated to the subject and ready to learn everyday.
“It’s just different homework, with different expectations,” Bozer said, “ It’s not about in the amount of homework, it’s about the pacing, and that the students be willing and ready to practice on their own, and willing to fully participate in a class.”
COMPILED BY WILLIAM FENG
WHY HONORS?
27 14
For the challenge.
5
College or Resume. Peer Pressure
Lockers at West:
a story of three tales By Nicu Curtu
There about 2000 lockers here at West High. At the start of this school year, the office requested some students give up their locker, especially if they were a senior. This was done so that all people who want to use a locker have one. Even with that though, there are still many students that do not even open, much less use, their lockers. One such person is Nathan Wilkinson 19‘. Wilkinson organizes his materials for class all in the same folder. He then just keeps his textbooks in his backpack. This, coupled with the fact that he gets to school just a couple of minutes before the 8:50 bell rings, makes his locker an interference, rather than a helping tool. He also “likes having everything with me in case I need it.” The last time he even opened his locker was before winter break.
Jenna Zeng 19’ locker Even though a significant number of people do not use their locker, the majority of students at West High do. This majority can be characterized into two categories, people with clean, and organized lockers, and people with messy and unorganized lockers. I interviewed one from each group. One person with a clean locker is Jenna Zeng 19’. Zeng uses her locker two to three times a day. She has a locker shelf to organize her school materials, which makes stopping at her locker, something easy, and not a waste of time. She says that having a clean locker is important to her, because, “then it’s easier to get whatever I need for class super quick and I won’t have to waste a ton of time digging trying to find stuff.” Also because of this, it will be very easy to clean her locker out at the end of the school year.
Nathan Wilkinson‘19 locker The person with a messy locker that I interviewed is Sam Shin ’19. He has a locker that is unorganized, but only goes to it once a day, so that isn’t a huge problem for him. Shin ’19. He has a locker that is unorganized, but only goes to it once a day, so that isn’t a huge problem for him. Even though he recognizes that his locker is messy, he thinks it will only take about five minutes to clean it out at the end of the year. However, Shin’s locker was not always messy. When asked whether it was always a mess, he says no it, “became that way” slowly over time. As West High is a very diverse school, it is not surprising then to find out that there are many ways people deal with their lockers. These ways include, not even using them, maintaining them clean, and allowing them to evolve into a mess. DESIGN BY NICK SILVA & NICU CURTU
Sam Shin19’ locker WSSPAPER.COM MAY 2017 FEATURE 11
PHOTOS BY THOMAS DUONG
FRESH START
BY NICK SILVA
Brighten up your summer with an easy fruity dessert. With just a few boxes of berries and about 45 minutes of cooking, you’ll have a tasty treat for friends and family. End school on the right step with a healthy, natural, but nonetheless delicious dessert. Tastes like the forest! Feeds 5-6 (or 3 sophomore boys)
What you will need:
Directions:
Crust
Crust
2 cups white flour 1 teaspoon coarse salt 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter 3 tablespoons ice water 2 tablespoons chilled whipping cream
Filling
8 ounces cream cheese (softened) ½ cup sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Toping
Mix flour, salt, butter, water and whipping cream and process until it forms moist clumps. Flatten dough into your pan and let chill for 1 hour.
Filling
In a medium bowl, beat the cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla until smooth. Spread onto cooled crust.
Topping
Fresh strawberries, blueberries, kiwis, blackberries (feel free to add your own favorite Decorate the tart with fruit. fruit)
Glaze
6 oz. limeade concentrate (thawed) 1 tablespoon cornstarch 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice ¼ cup granulated sugar
Glaze
Add limeade, corn starch, sugar, and lime juice into a small saucepan and cook on medium heat until clear and thick. Then glaze with a pastry brush. WSSPAPER.COM MAY 2017 RECIPE 13
FINISH LINE: SPORTS AT A GLANCE VOLLEYBALL
BY NICK SILVA DESIGN BY THOMAS DUONG
FOOTBALL RECORD:
RECORD: 23-15
262 KILLS
Even with lots of competition in the state, West High has performed and placed very well statewide. Here’s a look at some of the athletes and highlights of their seasons.
EMMA NORRIS ‘17
EVAN FLITZ ‘18
2237 YDS
CROSS COUNTRY
1242
GIRLS:
18:06
SEASON BEST TIME BY BAILEY NOCK ‘18
5 15:45 BOYS:
TH AT THE
STATE MEET (BOTH)
SEASON BEST TIME BY KOLBY GREINER ‘19
14 SPORTS MAY 2017 WSSPAPER.COM
BOYS:
10-3
DIGS 406 MADI FORD ‘17 MADDIE ASSISTS 722 FAY ‘17
2 ND
PASSING
OLIVER MARTIN ‘17
GOLF
GIRLS:
IN THE STATE
RECEIVING
SWIMMING & DIVING GIRLS:
28
TH
AT THE STATE MEET
BOYS:
5
TH
OVERALL
UNDEFEATED IN DUAL MEETS
WRESTLING
BASKETBALL
BOWLING BOYS:
BOYS:
19.6 PPG CAFFERY ‘17 PATRICK MCCAFFERY ‘19 60.6 FG% CONNOR MC-
RECORD:
7-5
GIRLS: INDIVIDUAL STATE CHAMP
RECORD:
372 PTS
7-5
RECORD:
23-3
GIRLS:
TENNIS
12.4 PPG SAUNDERS ‘18 85.4 FT% RACHAEL
GIRLS: RECORD:
LAUREN ZACHARIAS ‘19
17-1
375 PTS
BOYS:
21-4
15-0
TRACK & FIELD TH BOYS:
9
LOGAN COOK ‘17
RECORD:
RECORD:
GIRLS:
DEVONTAE LANE ‘17
SOCCER GIRLS: RECORD:
AT THE
STATE MEET
13-2
2
BOYS: RECORD:
ND AT THE
STATE MEET
11-7
WSSPAPER.COM MAY 2017 SPORTS 15
Y H W
M S I L A R U T L U C I MULT HAS
D E L I FA
BY NICU CURTU
A generation ago, a vast majority of people in Europe, if asked, would have told you multiculturalism, bringing people of foreign cultures to Europe, was a success. There weren’t many people opposed to it. Today, the popular opinion has changed. In 2010 the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, said that multiculturalism in Germany had “utterly failed.” Multiculturalism is not something that people have wanted, or given permission to happen. The general population was never asked, they were just informed it would happen. Politicians from all main stream parties were okay with it. For example, Andrew Neather, an ally of former U.K Prime Minister, Tony Blair, once said, his party wanted,“to rub the Right’s nose in diversity”. If you were opposed, you were labeled an extremist. Today though more and more people in Europe see it as a failure. All around Western Europe people see segregated neighborhoods, such as Moolenbeek in Brussels, which is a terrorist hotbed. In 2015, one of the Paris attack terrorists was hidden in that neighborhood for months. They see the ethnic and cultural makeup of their towns and cities changing 16 OPINION MAY 2017 WSSPAPER.COM
K SILVA
NIC DESIGN BY
massively. They see that multiculturalism as having to adapt to others, never others having to adapt to them. One example was pork being banned in some German school so as to not offend new migrants who didn’t eat pork. When the European Migrant Crisis, when over a million migrants entered Europe, started in 2015 however, many Europeans responded angrily. They weren’t asked, and felt that it was like the 1960s, when vast numbers of people came to Europe, and no one voted, or gave their permission for that to happen. They protested, and in some countries, like Hungary, they pointblank refused to take migrants in. Muliculturalism can only work when the majority of the host country willingly give their permission for it to happen, and when the new population, will not live in segregated communities, which is the case with Western Europe. In some of these neighborhoods Sharia Law (islamic law) prevails over the secular laws of the country. This terrible failure of multiculturalism, in Western Europe,
which is visible as it only divides people, rather than uniting them, has been one of the reasons why many countries in Eastern Europe have rejected this multiculturalism that was attempted to be imposed on them, through the resettlement of refugees. Countries such as Hungary, Poland, and the Czech Republic, are not, as of now, multicultural. Over 90% of their population is their own ethnicity. This is something that they have struggled for c e ntu r i e s to gain, and they are not going to jeopardize -Angela Merkel it because some politicians in Western Europe believe it is a good idea to send migrants to them. Recently even in Western Europe, multiculturalism has been under pressure. Parties that oppose it are doing better than ever before. One such party, the Dutch Party for Free-dom, came in second place, out 20+ parties running in elections this March. Even if such parties never gain outright power, the idea that multiculturalism is not good, will spread, and soon, it will enter the mainstream of politics.
“[Multiculturalism has] utterly failed”
R E D N GE
? M U R T C E P S ,A
BY NICK SILVA
“Bill, Bill, Bill!” Children chant as images of the scientist and colorful beakers scroll across a screen. As a student that was brought up through the American education system from a young age, I am familiar with this chant that would often fill classrooms during teacher sick days. But recently Nye has come under a wave of controversy because of remarks on his new show “Bill Nye Saves the World”. In a new step for his career, he has shifted from family friendly science videos to less rated G content.
“[Chromosomes] control whether we become a boy a girl.” -Bill Nye
In one of his episodes, he address-es the subject of gender. Nye makes the argument that gender is on a spectrum and not strictly biolog-ical. However, this makes a clear
distinction from Bill’s claims earlier in his career that gender is based on chromosomes as conception. I have lost my respect for my childhood scientist and hero. First I will address the absolute hypocrisy of Nye’s beliefs. In 1996, Bill Nye stated that “[Chromosomes] control whether we become a boy or a girl.” But in 2017, he argues that its false. No major scientific discoveries have been made to prove that gender is not biological. So why is he doing this? After looking around the Internet it seems that many people of believe that Nye is now putting his political views before actual science. But in fact it’s quite clear Nye is selling out his views to appeal to an more mature audience. Bill Nye has spent most of his life making science videos for children in school, and he made a statement to shock audiences and change perceptions.This is despicable. He has sold out his scientific reputability
for shock value and some controversy around his show. Now, on to the gender debate; are there more than two genders, and should we tolerate multiple genders. No, there are scientifically and religiously only two genders- male and female-and these are decided at conception. In fact, gender dysphoria, or the changing of genders, is a classified as a mental illness by the World Health Organization. The same classification used for autism. Also, if society begins to tolerate a few genders, then this pandemic will spiral out of control. There have already been pushes for dramatic reform in other countries. For example, a branch of the Swedish Liberal People’s Party said that they support the legalization of consensual necrophilia and incest. Groups are using the same justification to argue for horrible, horrible things. Where is the line drawn between right and wrong, acceptable and unacceptable? We have to draw the line here or our society will crumble under our feet. WSSPAPER.COM MAY 2017 OPINION 17
The bright neon lights, neoclassical architecture, and selectively franchised restaurants such as the Hard Rock Cafe and the Chocolate Factory draws in tourists an hour before the park closes.
One of the most famous rides at Disney, the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad rides more than 13,500 people daily. This ride is also found in four of the five Disney parks around the world.
D
uring the week of Apr. 17th, the West High Trojan Marching Band, comprised of 150 of the most dedicated band students and chaperones, traveled down to Orlando, Florida, for their biannual tour of the Disney and Universal theme parks. Students didn’t only go for the fun, but also paraded throughout the famous parks in the hot weather. Along the trip, students got to witness the landmarks and scenery that are unique to Orlando. These areas exemplify the craftsmanship and wonder these students got to enjoy instead of being in school, studying for their final grades of the year.
A relatively new addition to Universal, the Hogwarts Castle hosts one of the most famous and popular beverages, butterbeer. Sugary sweet, yet non-alcoholic, fans can fulfill their Harry Potter dreams.
PHOTO FEATURES BY THOMAS DUONG
PHOTOS AND DESIGN BY THOMAS DUONG